it has been too long...

So here's a finish for you!

Pattern: Fancy Feet Anklets Kit, but I substituted a different lace pattern.

Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Fingering

Colorway: Lilac

   It's been a busy summer for me so far, which isn't a bad thing, but sometimes it leaves me with not enough crafting time.  And unfortunately my writing obligations elsewhere have left me a bit out of sorts when it comes to blogging.  But limited crafting/blogging time does not mean that there is no crafting time to be had.  I have lots to show you!

   Besides finishing that quick pair of anklets in the photo above, I've recently dug out some old WIPs and cast on a few more.  Right now I think I'm feeling spread a bit too thin when it comes to projects, which means it's time for me to get some things off the needles.  But where to start?  

Here's just a list of some of the things I'm currently trying to get done to give you some idea:

1. Apirka Socks: these stranded socks are halfway done and I've committed to finishing them by the end of July - hopefully with some time to spare.  They are an easy enough knit, but I'm most motivated to work on them only once or twice a week and never on consecutive days.
2. Hue Shift Afghan:  I started another 25 square section (my second of four) and have given myself a one square per day (or better) deadline.  Which means I should be done with this section by June 25th.  
3. Spiral Mittens: Last month I experimented with Kool-aide dyeing and CO these mittens to use up a single skein of grape scented yarn. :)
4. Cameo Shawl: I just got back from visiting family in California and needed something portable and simple to knit on the plane.  SO. MUCH. GARTER. STITCH.
5. Cassidy: I'm still working on Cassidy.  Before leaving for CA, I managed to finish and block both fronts.  Now I'm being mocked by the single sleeve that needs to be knit and blocked before I can begin the seaming.
6. Cadence Socks: I CO to use some gorgeous yarn and knit about 3" but I will likely frog and go up a needle size.

   There's so much to do!  Funny how involved I can be in my "hobby" when my "job" is just as intense. Work hard, play hard...

   One thing I have been sort-of good at is keeping my stash acquisitions in check for the most part.  But I fell hard at my favorite LYS in CA.

Lets just say that it could have been worse and in my defense, my sock stash was getting dangerously low.

WIP report

This last week I've been focusing on two main WIPs.

 The first is Uma, a top down cardigan that is full of interesting techniques.  The plan is to have this sweater done by the week of the 20th, which should be doable since I've already completed the only seaming (at the neckband) and have started to weave in some ends already).  

  Above is my progress as of Sunday morning, but yesterday I managed to knit a sleeve cap and add a couple of inches to the length.  Interestingly, I discovered yesterday that I have never knit a short-row sleeve cap before.  I'm very familiar with short rows and hiding wraps, but I've just never used the technique for a sleeve cap.  So that was interesting and looks great (trust me on that) so far.  I think I'll have to come up with some excuses to knit short-row sleeve caps more often.  

   My next WIP is from a Knit Picks kit, Apirka Socks.  These will definitely be a long term WIP so I don't get burned out on the stranding and end up burying these in the WIP basket.  I'm working these (sort of) two-at-a-time on two sets of needles.  Mostly so I don't have to remember the needle changes I'm making to get these to fit.  It's slow going knitting on both socks at once, but hopefully, this will help me avoid SSS.  

   In other news, I got the next Santa's Village chart in the mail over the weekend.  I'll be ordering some floss and hopefully, will find some time to squeeze in stitching time before the end of the month.

finished!

   I finished knitting these last night and soaked them.  This morning they were just a bit wet still, so unfortunately, I couldn't wear them out today.  I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow... le sigh.

   For the most part I followed the pattern when knitting these, but did have to make some changes to get them to fit and in my opinion look a bit nicer.  For starters, I added a knit round in blue (Palette in Pool) before doing the purl round and continuing to knit the public side of the cuff.  I did this so that I could leave off the icord edging along the cuffs and it prevents the lining yarn from showing through on the right side.  I thought the icord edging looked a bit out of place and too tight on most of the finished projects I have seen, so I left it off.  

   I also re-charted the thumb gusset so it actually has a flower pattern rather than just blocks of colors as charted.  Otherwise, I knit the thumb chart as written.

  To get them to fit, I omitted one band of flowers so the mittens wouldn't come out too long.  I also used a 3 needle BO instead of kitchener to close up the seams (this is my go-to-too-lazy-to-kitchener substitution).  One thing I would change if I were to knit these again or even knit the matching hat is to swap out edamame (the lighter green) for something that stands out against the background color (gosling) better.

   Overall, these were quick knitting when I actually found the time to sit down and work on them.  I generally tend toward being a process knitter, but in this case I'm so glad that these mittens are just for me! 

Pattern: Peerie Flooers Mittens, Kate Davies

Yarn: Knit Picks Palette

Colorways: Pool, Wonderland Heather, Gosling, Edamame, Grass, Semolina, and Victorian

new year, new start

   On New Years Day (while nursing myself back to health after a disappointing stomach bug over the weekend) I started the new year with a new CO!

I'm turning this:

into these:

Pattern: Peerie Flooers Mittens, Kate Davies

Yarn: Knit Picks Palette

Colorways: Gosling, Semolina, Pool, Edamame, Victorian, Grass, and Wonderland Heather

   I love stranded mitten patterns.  They tend to multiply exponentially in my queue without me noticing.  These mittens, however, have been at the top of my queue for quite some time now.   

   I have no problems doing stranded knitting (it's addictive, really), but I'm not the best stranded mitten finisher(?).  Gauge is always a bit worrisome when you are working a stranded mitten; well, one that you actually want to fit.  Plus there are the millions of ends to deal with once you're done knitting.  Then there are those fiddly thumbs that need to be finished before you can call it a mitten.  However, I think the bright colors of these will keep me motivated to finish these, this winter.